The most important thing in life - but not in psychotherapy?!

Mental health can be substantially impaired by a low partner-relationship quality and nearly all mental disorders are associated with distress. Additionally, couple's interaction has an impact on parental behavior. Special attention must be paid to family violence. Based on this background, the reciprocity model and the theory of marital stability are described. Detailed suggestions are given for the assessment, treatment planning and couple-oriented as well as parent-orientated interventions. The suggestions are exemplified with a case vignette. Some legal and ethical standards as well as psychotherapeutic conditions may limit the application of these interventions.